by Mark Denham, from Cardiff City Stadium

Snapshot

A draw was perhaps a fair result as neither side dominated for significant spells in an end to end encounter.

City took the lead after just seven minutes through a Peter Whittingham penalty, after Jay Bothroyd had been pushed over inside the area by Jonas Olsson. The Baggies looked to exert themselves on the game in the following quarter of an hour, though despite some good midfield play, were unable to get much of the ball in or around the City area.

Just as it looked like the Bluebirds would go in a goal to the good at half time, Albion equalised with a scrappy goal. Gianni Zuiverloon was the beneficiary of some poor City defending, initially hitting the post before stabbing home the rebound from a yard out.

Goal bound efforts were few and far between in the second half, though substitute Chris Wood came the closest for West Brom with twenty minutes remaining, heading wide, unmarked from a great position. Chris Burke could have won the game for the Bluebirds with five minutes left, though his curling effort went just wide of a relieved Scott Carson's far post.

Chronological Report

The game started at a fast pace, both sides looking to impose themselves on the game in the opening stages. Scott Carson was the first of the two 'keepers to get his hands on the ball, collecting easily from Peter Whittingham's lofted attacking free-kick.

The visitors had a better chance though inside four minutes. Gabor Gyepes misjudged the flight of a somewhat hopeful ball forward, allowing Luke Moore to stride on inside the penalty area before dragging his shot wide.

On seven minutes, Cardiff were awarded a penalty kick. Jay Bothroyd outpaced Jonas Olsson inside the area, only to be brought down by the retreating defender before he struck at goal. Whittingham stepped up to take the spot kick, smashing home past Carson for the second time this season in emphatic style.

GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (Whittingham, pen 8 mins).

West Brom dominated the following ten minutes, City looking stretched at times, particularly in the centre of the park. Graham Dorrans looked very threatening breaking through the middle of the field, but the back-four stayed strong and resisted a concerted period of Albion pressure.

City were inviting pressure, two banks of four sitting in front of David Marshall absorbing Albion's sharp and threatening forward play. Andwele Slory picked up a bobbling ball inside the area, evading the attention of Anthony Gerrard and Mark Kennedy before striking the post from an acute angle. Equally worrying for the Bluebirds was the departure of goal-scorer Whittingham through injury.

Substitution Cardiff City, Ross McCormack on for Peter Whittingham (27 mins).

With City up against it, Chris Burke almost doubled their lead. The wide man was given far too much space by Joe Mattock on the right flank, allowing him to cut inside and strike from twenty-yards out at a stretching Carson who could only parry to safety.

McCormack's introduction seemed to upset the Albion left side, his dribbling style of play different to the more direct approach of Whittingham. On thirty-five minutes, good play between the Scot and Gyepes allowed Bothroyd to earn a free-kick just outside the right of the penalty area; unfortunately, McCormack's effort on goal from the resulting kick cleared the crossbar.

City had seemingly overcome that early Baggies pressure and showed great commitment and energy in closing the Albion down deep inside their own half. This was becoming a very open game and one could sense that more goals would come. Unfortunately for the Bluebirds, one came when it looked as if the half would end in their favour, Gianni Zuiverloon profiting from some slack defending of a Dorrans lobbed ball to poke home after Marshall had saved his initial shot from the edge of the box.

GOAL: CARDIFF CITY 1-1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (Zuiverloon, 45)

HALF TIME: CARDIFF CITY - WEST BROMWICH ALBION

West Brom, supported by a superb travelling contingent, thought they had scored three minutes after the restart, when Chris Brunt struck a superb effort from just outside the area in to the side netting.

Albion continued to threaten, though on fifty-four minutes, City hit them with a superb counter attack. Gavin Rae picked up the ball from Bothroyd on the right flank before breaking and looking to cross; Robert Koren stopped Rae's ball by using his hand and was duly booked by referee Woolmer. From the eventual free-kick, Gyepes almost put City back ahead and would have had his header not been straight at Carson.

City did look susceptible to the counter attack and following a good spell of pressure, almost succumbed to a killer Slory ball had it not been for a superb saving challenge by Gyepes. He was having a very solid display at centre-half and this challenge was particularly important.

Substitution West Bromwich Albion, Chris Wood on for Andwele Slory (64 mins).

With twenty minutes remaining, Albion had a golden chance to take the lead. Brunt and Zuiverloon toyed with McCormack in the left-back position, the latter swinging in a superb ball that Chris Wood headed wide when it was easier to score.

Substitution Cardiff City, Darcy Blake on for Aaron Wildig (70 mins).

The game continued to be very open as it drifted into the final fifteen minutes, as both sides looked capable of snatching the game. Albion looked more threatening playing long and on the counter, though City were arguably having the better passages of play and the sounder possession.

Substitution West Bromwich Albion, Simon Cox on for Robert Koren (82 mins).

With five minutes remaining, Burke came within inches of winning the game. Chopra broke down the right before dragging the ball back and although it didn't find its intended man, Olsson could only clear to Burke who curled wide with the goal at his mercy.

In injury time, the Baggies won a corner. City were unable to defend it and with the ball bouncing yards from Marshall, Wood stabbed it goalwards only to see his effort cleared off the line by Burke.

Bothroyd had the final chance of the game, nodding a Kennedy cross tamely at Carson. This was an exciting matchand either side could have won it, but in front of goal, neither team were clinical enough. For the Bluebirds, one man in particular stood out with a rock solid defensive performance and that was Gabor Gyepes.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF CITY 1-1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION